Judge Bars Work At Balefill Site

BARTLETT — Early work on the controversial balefill project near Bartlett has come to a halt following a Kane County judge`s order that no work be done pending a hearing next week.

Tree-clearing and other preliminary construction work began Monday at the 573-acre site in Cook and Kane Counties where 26 north and northwest suburbs want to dump their baled garbage.

Circuit Judge Michael Colwell ruled late Monday that work had to stop until he hears arguments Tuesday on a request by Bartlett for a permanent injunction to bar tree-clearing. Attorneys for Bartlett, which has staunchly opposed the balefill, filed for an injunction last week.

The Army Corps of Engineers rejected the balefill plan two weeks ago, but the suburban solid-waste agency that wants to build the project says it had to begin work at the site to meet state and Cook County requirements.

The group could still sue the corps or resubmit its plans to the corp for approval.